Hola!

 Tom, Ohini, me and Yao at the Dayworker Thank you function 3 weeks ago.

Hello from the Spanish island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands! Africa Mercy docked on the cruise ship dock at about 1600 yesterday. I hope to blog quickly so that I might explore this city more in my time off between now and Monday- when we leave.

The sail was pleasant, so much so that we were able to arrive in Tenerife a day early. This week here on the more touristy island is to lose the weights of the Landrovers and containers so that when we go across to Las Palmas we can move straight into dry dock. Also people under 18 (and their parents) are not allowed in the dry dock and will take the cars on ferries across to Las Palmas where they will stay in hotels.

During the sail we had the Nepalese security crew cooking a few delicious curries (including peeling 400 boiled eggs!)  on one night as well as the South Africans cooking bobotie and melktert on another. Both were a pleasure to help with and it just so happened that I was working on both days. I also had the privilege of eating a Korean meal prepared by a friend. Two friends and I also hosted a waffle breakfast with just about every topping one could desire. How lucky I have been in trying all these new things. Bobotie was also a first for me!

Thankfully, perhaps with the aid of sea sickness meds from which I was slowly weaned as the 10 days progressed, I was not sea sick. That was an answer to prayer- when I used the pills for fishing they were no help! From the bow of the ship we were blessed with sightings of flying fish, sunsets and dolphins. I was even able to spend one night on deck in my hammock!

The sail was largely relaxing and I managed to plough through a 500 page Bourne novel when not working or taking part in the activities such as Bingo and the pirate dress up party (for which I felt rather unprepared!)

 On the bow with a Dutchie, Elsa, on a particularly calm day

 Our Bobotie being served                                                                Milo milkshake while making waffles!

 Durbanite Ryan and myself in the dishroom

As for our arrival late yesterday afternoon, we had a briefing on the area from the director of the Spanish office. We were the free to go into town- a pleasant 15 minute walk away. Some rules regarding our time ashore have been relaxed, for example, the curfew. Now we may return as late as we wish. Last night most of my peers headed to the McDonalds. When in Spain! I settled for a bread roll instead. We then wandered around the main street looking at shops and for a Tapas bar with enough seats for all of us. Unsuccessful, we settled for ice cream followed by a sit in the gardens higher up in town. Just before heading home a friend, Elsa, and I shared Sangria at a restaurant we had been recommended. It was delicious!

This morning I went for a long run north along the coast and after the Siesta I will go and explore the town further! Tomorrow I will work again.

 The dock and tenerife- was rather misty

 Leaving the ship for the first time in 10 days. The port is a dream compared to those we are used to!

Thank you all for your prayers for our safe passage and my health.

Love Benjamin

Ahoy!

Blog 17

Ahoy from M/V Africa Mercy as she sails towards Tenerife. I am in the PC café being regularly distracted by the passing ocean to my right. What a blessing to be sitting here.

Yesterday we left Lome after a 5 month field service there. As the last days cantilevered into moments, I felt sad to be leaving. Gladly, I had done all that I wished to do, bar one item, before leaving.

Last Saturday evening, a friend and colleague Tori, organised a party at the beach as a farewell. We prepped fruit skewers, salsa, and guacamole and hot dog dressings and set off for the beach with a few pallets ready to be burned! Using straightened metal hangers we grilled our Viennas and marshmallows (for smores!) I set up my hammock which was wonderful even if it meant I spent a fair amount of time policing it. Around ten pm Tom, a friend from the galley, and I left for his house where I would spend the night.

Tom had a single bedroom house in a nice neighbourhood in Lome. Going to bed soon after arriving I was awoken by his rooster. It would be his last cry at dawn. I offered to make breakfast with the brinjal I had bought the day before. It has been a long time since I have had sliced, floured and fried eggplant for breakfast and was glad to cook for Tom. It is another of Betty’s foods that I miss. I was amazed at the closeness of the community. Borrowing items at 11 o clock at night, coming uninvited for a bit of breakfast the next morning- without any animosity.

After breakfast we made some calls to colleagues and friends inviting them for lunch. Then he took me to the hairdresser for a much needed cut- our hairdresser aboard was leaving and had been fully booked the week before leaving!  We bought coal and firelighters necessary for our lunch prep and then returned home for the chicken. I held the chicken down as Tom slit its throat and drained the blood- a valuable life skill to learn. He then put it into boiling water, removed the feathers and put the body on the hot coals. After this Tom skillfully cut apart the chicken with no waste. After peeling and cutting the yam we left it to boil while we blended the onions, chilies, tomatoes and garlic. Removing the yam we cooked the spices with the chicken pieces in the pot, making a spicy stew. Tom’s friends then began pounding the boiled yam making fufu, the most popular starch in Togo. A friend, Ohini then arrived and we enjoyed cheap Sangria and ice. We sat down and ate the ‘curry’ and fufu- with our hands of course. I need not even taste it to know it is hot- my fingertips begin stinging immediately. But I love it!

Ohini and I had planned to have dinner on Wednesday night so after working Monday and Tuesday and making Betty’s rusks in the morning, I prepared to leave with a few last gifts for Tom and Ohini. As I walked out the front door to the gangway I saw the newly posted captain’s notice- no leaving the port. The overhead announcement had not even been made yet.  This was due to the political riots happening in central Lome. I quickly emailed Ohini but also learnt that a car was meeting Tom at the port gate to give some things to Tom. I was thankfully able to meet up with Tom and also receive some last tailored items for friends. The Lord is good! Sadly I was not able to see Ohini but I have no doubt that we will meet up again.

The following day, Thursday, the ban was in fact revoked but meeting up with Ohini didn’t work out. That meant that Sam and I were able to go out to dinner with Thomas and Ma- our wonderful hosts from Benin. Walking to the port gate I saw Yao, another friend, for the last time. On Monday we had said out goodbyes but I was glad to see him again. I met Sam at the gate and we went to Ma’s house via her beautiful tailoring shop. I have not seen such selection in so small a place. Ma’s house is beautiful. So great to see how people can live – Captain just announced a slight change in direction this evening, leading to more ship movement, make sure those cabins a safely secured!- how people can live such dignified and fruitful lives in spite of their past and the current economic situation of their state. Again we had fufu, this time with a seafood sauce, and of course we ate with our hands. It was, as every meal in West Africa has been, delicious. I had seconds and cleaned my plate well, even eating the half a crab. It was a sad goodbye and suddenly the reality of leaving the place I had spent the last 5 months dawned on me.

The next morning we had an early pirate drill and then prepared to leave. The last of the cars was lifted; the gangway as well and we were ready. After working in the morning we had a 45 minute break before returning to ensure lunch was prepared. We watched from decks 7 and 8 as a small group waved us off and we maneuvered out of the port.   Returning to work we could feel the ships rocking immediately. Galley work has to be very careful and well-timed during a sail. I have yet to feel sick, praise the Lord! After work last night we took the last brown bags of food waste and threw them off the side of the ship. They make a satisfying slap as they hit the ocean below. I am now on a one day on, one day off schedule.

The Internet appears a bit up and down but I should still be able to keep in contact.

Please pray for a continued enjoyable sail and that if there is a diet related cause to my eczema that it may be revealed to me!

Keep well all

From a content Benjamin

 Ohini and Tom

 Eating fufu and chicken

 A Landy being loaded

 A few of the 20+ cars presently atop deck 8

 View from the aft

 Sam and Ma laughing at a joke during dinner

 Two of Tom's friends pounding yam for fufu.Notice the hat on the right. I don't think he was realy a Bok fan

Lunch

Odds and ends

Blog 16 05.06

I managed to take screen shots of the Africa Mercy Chopped film so that you can see what I created for the cooking competition a few weeks ago. Sadly the quality is not that great but I think you will get the idea. I could not manage to get the dessert but thats ok, I was happier with my main!

Last weekend there was a South African braai at the land based team house. The braai was organised by South Africans but we were certainly in the minority. Michelle, a fellow SAn, and I spent the afternoon making Braai broodjies, salad and condensed milk/mayonnaise potato salad- a new experience for me! We left the ship in terrible downpour and then sat in traffic for half an hour. Luckily we had a bag of Lays for company.

The team house is pretty perfect for a braai. It has three stories and the top is very cool to braai on and look out over the city. The rain did stop so we were able to leave the shelter of the roof. We braaied some focaccia that I had made the day before and sirloin which had been marinating overnight. For dessert we even had peppermint crisp pudding (the chocolates brought from SA)!

On Saturday I went to Lake Togo with friends Brian, Josh and Tom. We were ferried across the lake to Togoville where everyone tried to get money from us. Most keen was a man at the rather large and impressive Catholic Church. Thankfully our host, Tom, was just as reluctant to support the grabbing hands and the day turned out to be rather inexpensive.

Later that day I went out with Yao, a galley day worker, to celebrate his 30^th birthday. After taking me for a tour of Lome on his motorbike we eventually found the Mercy Ships favourite restaurant, Cote Jardin. I know that Yao is incredibly wise and hardworking which is why I wanted to take him out to commend him. However, just talking to him I was inspired by how he made a decision to rise above his impoverished circumstances at a young age, acquiring a masters in English and a good job in the port. His circumstance was well illustrated to me when I discovered that our waiter was Yao’s class mate at university. While Yao was diligent, he was not.

On Sunday I ran to the Ghana border and back- a total of 20kms. I was pretty exhausted after that! The president, who was due to visit at some point during the day, cancelled as he was out of the country! I was not surprised at all. I met up with Abdulai, a day worker who I work with in the dental sterilizing room, and he showed me where he lives and his neighbourhood. I unfortunately had to rush back to meet up with my friends to do something together before Elise, a very good friend, left the next day. We ended up watching the Bourne movies.

On Wednesday I went to the last day of dental treatment for this field service. I felt privileged to attend on this day but was nonetheless very fatigued as it was the week where I work 6 days out of 7. During this service the team managed to see over 4000 patients- one and a half thousand more than the target originally set at the beginning of the year!

Seeing as in two weeks’ time we will almost certainly be sailing, I would like to inform you of my plans and duties during the time in Tenerife and Las Palmas. When we sail the galley shift changes to one day on - one day off. This allows for fairness of days worked during the sail. Arriving in Tenerife around the 25 of June, we will revert to normal shifts. We will be in Tenerife for about one week and many people will leave during this time. Following this we leave Tenerife for Las Palmas, another island in the Canary Islands, where we enter dry dock. This is expected to last 10 days or so day but there are rumors of delays. Before we are due to exit dry dock I have been granted personal time off (the 11 July). This is also the same day that my dad will arrive in Las Palmas following time spent in Spain. Amazing how it works out! We will then have 9 days of touring the two large islands, Las Palmas and Tenerife. Very exciting! Apparently when I return to the ship it will be in Tenerife where it will undergo more maintenance work.

I have been told that I will be required to team lead in the galley for a few days/weeks while Rachel has left and we await the arrival of the new team leader. I am a bit anxious but also excited for this position- should it happen that is.

I have been checking my balance in my account versus the money spent ofver the last 4 months and am aware of exactly how much has been consistently added to my account. Sadly there is no way of me knowing who the money came from and when- other than in a 15 day period. Therefore withdrawing random amounts irregularly makes it difficult to know how much was added each bi-month. I would therefore like to thank my donors who gave once and the ones who have kept giving as my time here progressed. I hope I am aware of who each of you is so that I might thank you in person when I return.

As for prayers, pleased continue to pray for my eczema which simply oscillates between terrible (while working) and not too bad (when I am off). Please also keep praying for peace in my heart regarding my studies next year.

 on the way to lake togo

 our first 'at sea' fire drill!

 A thai prawn curry and red onion/mango chutney i made last week when there was to be no crew dinner due to a function

the dental sterilisation room :)

Love Benjamin